Process for preparing alpha filtering material



Patented Sept. '29, 1925.

umrao STATES [P ENT OFFICE.

DAVID T. DAY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 01 COLUMBIA; ELIZABETH E. DAY EX ECUTBIX F SAID DAVID T. DAY, DECEASED.

PROCESS'FOR PREPARING 'A FILTERING MATERIAL.

' No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern: 5

Be it known that 1, DAVID T. DAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVashington, District of Columbia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for Preparing a Filtering Material, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to theproduction of a filtering material from shale. Oil-bearing shales are distilled for the oils and wax they contain, and the residue that is left, is commonly treated as Waste. In the process to be described, this otherwise waste material may beutilized by treating the shale, preferably during distillation so as to produce an eificient filtering material at very little expense.

The material to be treated may be any earthy material containing particles of siliceous material distributed throughout its mass. Oil-bearing shale found in some parts of California, Colorado, Utah and in some other locations, is ofthis character, and its porosity makes it particularly desirable in that from it may be roduced afiltering material with a large a sorbing surface. a

One way of carrying out the process is to mix shale, preferably a porous, siliceous oilbearing shale, in the form of lumps or in any other form, convenient for retorting, with about 1% of its weight of sodiumhydroxide in dry form. TlllS may be done in any convenient manner, such as, for instance, by rotatingthe shale and soda in a horizontal rotary retort. The mixture is heated to distill oii the oil, and the now commonly termed spent shale may be used as fuel beneath the retort so that the carbonaceous matter is then burnt out. The residue is allowed lZOfCOOl and this leaves a filtering material ready for use after it is finely ground.

The process outlined may be modified by adding the alkali during or afterinstead of before the distillation of the oil. Either dry alkali P ly sodium hydroxide or soda I transformation takes place while the heating of the alkali-shale mixture is being conducted. The properties .of the resultant product indicate that the silica content of soda, and grinding the residue.

Application filed December 11, 1924. Serial to. 755,315.

the shale has been materially changed and, apparently the alkali has been volatilized 0 Any alkali which is volatile at furnace temperatures will serve the purpose of the process, and there maybe others which will .act in the manner described.

The product hasremarkably increased adsorptive propertiesand is-better suited for refining and filtering purposes shale.

What I claim is 4 1. A process for preparing a filtering material comprising heating a mixture of shale and alkali, and grinding the resulting product.

2. A process for preparing a filtering material comprising heating a mixture of shale and sodium hydroxide, and grinding the re sulting product.

terial comprising heating shale supplemented with about 1% by weight of caustic soda, and grinding the resulting product.

4. A process for preparing a filtering materialcomprising distilling a mixture of oil shale and alkali, and grinding the residue.-

-5. A process for preparing a filtering. material comprising distilling a mixture of oil shale and sodium hydroxide, and grinding the residue.

6. The process for preparing a filtering mav terial comprising distilling oil shale;supple- 3. A process for preparing. a filtering mathan is spent mented with about 1% by weight o ff c'austic 7. A process for preparing a filteringmaterial comprising mixing a small quantityaof alkali with oil shale, subjecting ,the shale and alkali to a distilling treatment and sem ing the shale to remove the carbon. i--

8. A process for preparing a filtering :frnaterial comprising mixing a small quantityof'] sodium hydroxide with oil shale, subjecting the shale and sodium hydroxide to a distilling treatment, and burning'the shale to remove the carbon. 3

9. A process for preparing a filtering material comprising mixing 1% by weight of caustic soda with oil shale, subjecting vthe shale and caustic soda to a distilling treat? ment, andburning the shale to'remove the carbon. 5

5 kali to a distilling treatment, burning the shaleto remove the carbon, and grinding the residue.

11. A process for preparing a filtering.

material comprising mixing sodium, hydrox- 40 ide With oil shale ofa siliceous, porous nature, subjecting the shale and sodium hydroxide to a distilling treatment, burning carbon, and grindof caustic. soda with oil shale of a siliceous, 7

porous-nature,subjecting the shale and caustic soda to a distilling treatment, burning the shale to remove the carbon, the residue.

In testimony WhereofI afiix my signature.

DAVID T. DAY.

and grinding 2Q 

